1642 replies to this topic

[SophieB]

It has been a torrid time in F1 lately, dominated by controversy over track limits/running drivers off the road. Thank goodness we are moving on to Interlagos where nothing is going to jog memories over that sort of thing! Ahem. Anyway, Lando Norris continues his largely theoretical stab at the title on one of F1’s proper tracks, steeped in history and memories of championships won and lost back in the days when all was right with the world and this was the final race of the season.
 

 
 
This time round, it’s  also a sprint weekend so for the six of you out there that like that sort of thing, this is the sort of thing you’ll like. The rest of you, eh, make the the best of it - you’d be glad of a sprint race in the F1-less drought of January or February.
 
The track
 

via f1.com

 

Tyre stuff, via Pirelli twitter

 

 
When is it on?

GMT times below. Track time is minus 3 hours.
 

 
Race vibes

[Flyingfinn]

Looks like a wet-dry race. Typical Brazil. My predictions: 1. Lando Norris 2. Charles Leclerc 3. Oscar Piastri 4. Carlos Sainz 5. Max Verstappen

[Okyo]

Somewhat get the feeling that a lot of things will be decided here as other remaining tracks are rather safe and "sterile" with little chance for chaos. With Max getting a grid drop and starting from the more dangerous part of the grid and with a lot of rain in sight, he has to come out unscathed. If it potentially comes to a DNF and Norris wins it, then suddenly Max has to start getting constant podiums to make sure that Norris doesn't catch him which is a completely different ball game. 

Edited by Okyo, 30 October 2024 - 09:03.

[JimmyClark]

Somewhat get the feeling that a lot of things will be decided here as other remaining tracks are rather safe and "sterile" with little chance for chaos. With Max getting a grid drop and starting from the more dangerous part of the grid and with a lot of rain in sight, he has to come out unscathed. If it potentially comes to a DNF and Norris wins it, then suddenly Max has to start getting constant podiums to make sure that Norris doesn't catch him. Of course, could go the other way around at any point.

Vegas has potential for chaos, but yes let's savour this weekend as the last traditional and daytime race of the season.

Hopefully it will be a wet-dry classic. This is an absolute must win for Lando though.

[jonklug]

Track has been resurfaced and water blasted, and softer compounds are being brought by Pirelli. Going to be wild.

[SophieB]

Track has been resurfaced and water blasted, and softer compounds are being brought by Pirelli. Going to be wild.

Dumb question but what is this and what does it do? I’m imagining a giant water pistol.

[southernstars]

Vegas has potential for chaos, but yes let's savour this weekend as the last traditional and daytime race of the season.

Hopefully it will be a wet-dry classic. This is an absolute must win for Lando though.

 

You mean the 4am race...god, I can't wait for Vegas.

[Okyo]

Dumb question but what is this and what does it do? I’m imagining a giant water pistol.

Basically a strong water gun which removes all dirt, rubber and oils from the surface. Gonna be a very very green track with extreme track evolution. Sprint and race qualifying, dry or wet will be quite something. 

Edited by Okyo, 30 October 2024 - 09:19.

[Claudius]

3 races in 3 weekends. Unusual but I'm not complaining. 

[JimmyClark]

You mean the 4am race...god, I can't wait for Vegas.

I mean daytime local time.

[Muppetmad]

Should we expect the track surface to be like Turkey 2020? If so, who knows how this weekend will go...!

[Okyo]

Should we expect the track surface to be like Turkey 2020? If so, who knows how this weekend will go...!

Kind of doubt it. As far as i recall, that track was also claimed to be water blasted and so on, but clearly that wasn't enough to get the oil from the fresh resurface. Other tracks don't usually have those problems when doing a resurface so I'd point to the quality of work done by the Istanbul track people.

[Yoshi]

Race will start at 6 pm for me - finally a better time again then the last two with 9 pm.

I guess its gonna to be a cracking weekend over there - looking foward to it.

[Acathla]

Hope that Max can bounce back from everything. As long as Norris doesn't win this, it's ok.

[jonklug]

Dumb question but what is this and what does it do? I’m imagining a giant water pistol.

 

Those exist as well, but for tracks I am assuming they used something like this:

 

[1player]

Looks like a wet-dry race. Typical Brazil. My predictions:1. Lando Norris2. Charles Leclerc3. Oscar Piastri4. Carlos Sainz5. Max Verstappen

My hope really is a Lando win and to see Oscar finish in front of Max

[southernstars]

I mean daytime local time.

 

Oh yeah. All night races after that.

[SophieB]

I bet Lewis feels very smug arriving at this race weekend, getting to go through the much shorter passport control queue for Brazilian passport holders. I know I would.

[Miles749]

Track has been resurfaced and water blasted, and softer compounds are being brought by Pirelli. Going to be wild.

 

And from what I understood from the press, it was done last two months and the first series to race on the resurfaced track will be F1.

 

On a sprint weekend. Track evolution will be insane. 

[JimmyClark]

I bet Lewis feels very smug arriving at this race weekend, getting to go through the much shorter passport control queue for Brazilian passport holders. I know I would.

Does honourary citizenship mean you get a passport too? Thats pretty cool if so. Though I'm sure he'd be whisked through a VIP lane anyway.

Edited by JimmyClark, 30 October 2024 - 10:15.

[Timorous]

Lando needs a big point swing here to have a chance in the last 3 races. He needs to win both the sprint and the race and close the gap by 20 points or more. Given the expected weather and a resurfaced track though anything can happen.

[SophieB]

Does honourary citizenship mean you get a passport too? Thats pretty cool if so. Though I'm sure he'd be whisked through a VIP lane anyway.

I think it does! I *think* he has mentioned this before but now I’m doubting myself a little.

[sportyskells]

My 4th dinner upstairs in four weeks. This time NOT because of football but because of f1

[Ruusperi]

I would like to love Interlagos, but for me it has been ruined by the endless seas of tarmac run-off areas.

So if you think we won't have to deal with track limits controversies and overtaking outside the white lines again, you're gravely mistaken.

[DJH63]

I bet Lewis feels very smug arriving at this race weekend, getting to go through the much shorter passport control queue for Brazilian passport holders. I know I would.

I like the idea that F1 drivers arriving on private jets go and stand in customs lines 

[SophieB]

I like the idea that F1 drivers arriving on private jets go and stand in customs lines 

I can dream! Besides, Lewis sold his jet years ago.

[Goron3]

I would like to love Interlagos, but for me it has been ruined by the endless seas of tarmac run-off areas.

So if you think we won't have to deal with track limits controversies and overtaking outside the white lines again, you're gravely mistaken.

Gravel traps at T1 and T4 would make the track significantly better.

[Nemo1965]

Somewhat get the feeling that a lot of things will be decided here as other remaining tracks are rather safe and "sterile" with little chance for chaos. With Max getting a grid drop and starting from the more dangerous part of the grid and with a lot of rain in sight, he has to come out unscathed. If it potentially comes to a DNF and Norris wins it, then suddenly Max has to start getting constant podiums to make sure that Norris doesn't catch him which is a completely different ball game.

How many times at Ref Bull has Max been involved in a start-related DNF or any DNF when he had to start from outside the top-10 for one reason or another? I remember one: Belgium 2017. His worst start-related bad result was, out of the top my head, 5th, Hungary with that bounce with Ricciardo.

How ever wild Verstappen can be, he’s Lauda-esque in avoiding ‘bad luck’ when he ends up in the mid-field.

[jcbc3]

I love this gravel trap!

 

https://www.youtube....o?feature=share

 

Gave Magnussen pole in 2022

[PrinceBira]

How many times at Ref Bull has Max been involved in a start-related DNF or any DNF when he had to start from outside the top-10 for one reason or another? I remember one: Belgium 2017. His worst start-related bad result was, out of the top my head, 5th, Hungary with that bounce with Ricciardo.

How ever wild Verstappen can be, he’s Lauda-esque in avoiding ‘bad luck’ when he ends up in the mid-field.

 

Not a DNF, but surely we all remember the Hungary 2021 start which did cost Verstappen a lot of points that day. 

 

Edit: oh sorry, your criteria are 'start outside of top 10 and then DNF'. Fair point, I don't recall a significant incident when he started in the pack after a penalty etc.

Edited by PrinceBira, 30 October 2024 - 11:50.

[Ali623]

Predictions:

 

Norris and Verstappen come together, both DNF from the GP.

 

Mercedes are outpaced by Haas on merit.

 

Hulkenberg, with the help of some mixed conditions, finishes on the podium for the first time in his career.

[monolulu]

“On Saturday, Sir Lewis Hamilton will drive the McLaren MP4/5B, the car Ayrton Senna won his second championship in the 1990 Formula 1 season with.“

[rodlamas]

Local weather forecasts lowering the chance of rain for the moment. But don't expect an all out sun. Days shall be cool and grey.

[Okyo]

Local weather forecasts lowering the chance of rain for the moment. But don't expect an all out sun. Days shall be cool and grey.

Get ready for the rain radar close ups and dark clouds afar zoom ins with Croft pointing out how dark it's getting (not saying i dislike that "rain's a comin" tension). 

Edited by Okyo, 30 October 2024 - 12:03.

[DJH63]

I can dream! Besides, Lewis sold his jet years ago.

He just rents a private jet instead..

[lamo]

How many times at Ref Bull has Max been involved in a start-related DNF or any DNF when he had to start from outside the top-10 for one reason or another? I remember one: Belgium 2017. His worst start-related bad result was, out of the top my head, 5th, Hungary with that bounce with Ricciardo.

How ever wild Verstappen can be, he’s Lauda-esque in avoiding ‘bad luck’ when he ends up in the mid-field.

 

Incredible small sample size, he must have only started 10 races outside the top 10 in the last 6-7 seasons.

[milestone 11]

The best circuit on the calendar. Can't wait.

[SophieB]

He just rents a private jet instead..

What are you basing this on.

 

Semi related…

@blog_formula1

SEBASTIAN VETTEL JÁ ESTÁ EM SÃO PAULO! 
 

[SophieB]

@motorsport

Lewis Hamilton will pay tribute to Ayrton Senna by driving his McLaren MP4/5B

On Saturday 2nd Nov, after F1 sessions 

#BrazilGP

[Nemo1965]

Incredible small sample size, he must have only started 10 races outside the top 10 in the last 6-7 seasons.

I don’t know… perhaps someone can look it up! I’m not going to! 😂

Edit: chat GPT did it for me.

Here’s the list of races where Max Verstappen started outside the top 10 while driving for Red Bull, along with his finishing positions:

1. **2016**:
- Belgian Grand Prix: Started 11th, Finished 3rd
- Italian Grand Prix: Started 13th, Finished 6th
- Malaysian Grand Prix: Started 13th, Finished 2nd

2. **2017**:
- Chinese Grand Prix: Started 16th, Finished 4th
- Monaco Grand Prix: Started 11th, Finished 9th

3. **2018**:
- German Grand Prix: Started 14th, Finished 2nd
- Hungarian Grand Prix: Started 11th, Finished 2nd

4. **2019**:
- Bahrain Grand Prix: Started 15th, Finished 3rd

5. **2020**:
- Turkish Grand Prix: Started 18th, Finished 1st

6. **2021**:
- Azerbaijan Grand Prix: Started 11th, Finished 4th

7. **2022**:
- Australian Grand Prix: Started 14th, Finished 2nd
- Miami Grand Prix: Started 12th, Finished 3rd

8. **2023**:
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix: Started 15th, Finished 2nd

This list compiled by Chat GP shows Verstappen’s starting positions and the corresponding race results. Admit: that is impressive, if it is correct.

Edited by Nemo1965, 30 October 2024 - 12:48.

[PayasYouRace]

I would like to love Interlagos, but for me it has been ruined by the endless seas of tarmac run-off areas.
So if you think we won't have to deal with track limits controversies and overtaking outside the white lines again, you're gravely mistaken.

I hate when textures don’t load properly.

[SophieB]

I would like to love Interlagos, but for me it has been ruined by the endless seas of tarmac run-off areas.

So if you think we won't have to deal with track limits controversies and overtaking outside the white lines again, you're gravely mistaken.

If that’s referring to the OP, I was obliquely referring to this in 2021, which had strong parallels with recent arguments.

 

https://www.the-race... 10th to first?

[sportyskells]

And sometimes we get a safety car (it be the 3rd time in 3 races if that happens). Last year we had a restart 

[DW46]

I don’t know… perhaps someone can look it up! I’m not going to! 😂

Edit: chat GPT did it for me.

Here’s the list of races where Max Verstappen started outside the top 10 while driving for Red Bull, along with his finishing positions:

1. **2016**:
- Belgian Grand Prix: Started 11th, Finished 3rd
- Italian Grand Prix: Started 13th, Finished 6th
- Malaysian Grand Prix: Started 13th, Finished 2nd

2. **2017**:
- Chinese Grand Prix: Started 16th, Finished 4th
- Monaco Grand Prix: Started 11th, Finished 9th

3. **2018**:
- German Grand Prix: Started 14th, Finished 2nd
- Hungarian Grand Prix: Started 11th, Finished 2nd

4. **2019**:
- Bahrain Grand Prix: Started 15th, Finished 3rd

5. **2020**:
- Turkish Grand Prix: Started 18th, Finished 1st

6. **2021**:
- Azerbaijan Grand Prix: Started 11th, Finished 4th

7. **2022**:
- Australian Grand Prix: Started 14th, Finished 2nd
- Miami Grand Prix: Started 12th, Finished 3rd

8. **2023**:
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix: Started 15th, Finished 2nd

This list compiled by Chat GP shows Verstappen’s starting positions and the corresponding race results. Admit: that is impressive, if it is correct.

These results look a bit wrong. Didn’t he have a retirement in Baku 21.

Agree on the sentiment though, staying out of trouble in the pack is one of the man’s strengths.

[Nemo1965]

These results look a bit wrong. Didn’t he have a retirement in Baku 21.

Agree on the sentiment though, staying out of trouble in the pack is one of the man’s strengths.

 

Baku 21 he started 3rd... so that does not count. But Turkey 2020 is wrong, he qualified 2nd behind Stroll. But as you say: if he drivers in the pack, Max is very circumspect. I remember a race in Spa (wasn't he 16th after an engine swap? 2022? Can't remember the year) where I saw him just easing down the middle and picking space beautifully. As I say: Lauda-esque. 

Edited by Nemo1965, 30 October 2024 - 14:06.

[P123]

These results look a bit wrong. Didn’t he have a retirement in Baku 21.

Agree on the sentiment though, staying out of trouble in the pack is one of the man’s strengths.

 

Yeah, maybe some tweaks required to the list.  Lewis won Turkey 2020, and Max started 2nd.  Max has won from 9th, 10th and 14th on the grid. 

[jonklug]

These results look a bit wrong. Didn’t he have a retirement in Baku 21.

Agree on the sentiment though, staying out of trouble in the pack is one of the man’s strengths.

 

What people should understand about ChatGPT is that it still makes A LOT of mistakes. Once I was lazy to calculate something so I pasted a row of values and asked him to calculate a simple arithmetic average and he completely screwed the pooch. 

[LolaB0860]

I would like to love Interlagos, but for me it has been ruined by the endless seas of tarmac run-off areas.

So if you think we won't have to deal with track limits controversies and overtaking outside the white lines again, you're gravely mistaken.

Unfortunately this track's been absolute garbage for asphalt runoff for well over a decade now. Even Spa is now better, with some of the asphalt replaced again.

 

The next race without gigantic asphalt parking lots (or walls) is Melbourne of course.

[loki]

[aray]

A Max dnf and Lando win on Sunday is what I want,irrespective of sprint results.